Click Below To Read About This Month’s Club Selections!

Beau Vigne Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Cali,  USA

(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the producer’s website)

Varietal Composition Cabernet Sauvignon

Location Napa Valley, California

Drink Now or Cellar? Drink now or cellar until 2030

Tasting notes:

It showcases bold, dark fruit flavors of blackberry and cassis, harmoniously balanced with subtle oak nuances. A well-structured body, with firm tannins and a lingering finish make it a timeless representation of the classic California Cabernet.

Food pairings!

• The 2022 Beau Vigne Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon pairs beautifully with richly marbled cuts of beef such as ribeye or New York strip, where its bold tannins and dark fruit can stand up to the fat and char. It also complements hearty dishes like braised short ribs, lamb shank, or aged cheddar, which highlight its depth and structure.

From Them to You!

All of the North Coast experienced a dream vintage with even ripeness, and flowering. It will be remembered for low yields with intensely-flavored, small-sized berries and a smooth and uneventful harvest season. The season started off with very little rain, leading to the 2nd year of

drought conditions in region. The drought of resulted in a more natural load on the vines, requiring less pruning and dropping of fruit. The wine is aged for 16 months in 100% French oak barrels.

“The Beau Vigne “Heritage” bottling is sourced from several sites in Napa and Sonoma, including one near Vérité. Incredibly savoury, it leads with notes of black olive, liquorice, and bursts of blue fruit and violets. Full-bodied, it features wonderfully plump and sweet tannins and lots of juicy, crushed black fruits complemented by nuances of dried fennel and tobacco.” -93 pts, Decanter

Domaine de Chateaumar Cotes du Rhone Cuvée Bastien Grenache:

(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the producer’s website)

Varietal Composition Grenache

Location Cotes du Rhone, France

Drink Now or Cellar? Drink now or cellar until 2027

Tasting notes:

Rich, fruity, and elegant, with classic Châteauneuf Grenache character, but with a ripe and open-knit structure that makes its black cherry, spice, graphite and sweet earth accessible now.

Food pairings!

• The Domaine de Chateaumar Cuvée Bastien Grenache pairs beautifully with Provençal dishes like herb-roasted lamb, ratatouille, or grilled sausages, where its ripe fruit and spice find harmony with Mediterranean flavors. It also shines alongside aged cheeses or hearty stews, which bring out its earthy depth and supple texture.

From Them to You!

The Castel Mar (Châteaumar) estate dates back to the 11th century. Since the beginning, over countless generations, the vines at Domaine de Châteaumar have been cultivated without any pesticides or herbicides by father and son in the Souret family. Today, Jean-Felix and Frederic Souret manage the vineyard, still maintaining the greatest respect for nature.

The estate is located 9 km from Orange, in the heart of the Côtes-du-Rhône AOP. The vineyards include 12 acres in the prestigious northern plain of Châteauneuf-du-Pape on red clay with large round galets, and 25 adjacent acres in Côtes-du-Rhône on stony clay-limestone soils. The vineyard is naturally established from several noble varieties of the Southern Rhône, principally Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Farming is organic, but uncertified. The soil is turned several times during the year which allows the vines to draw a wonderful energy from deep down to create beautifully formed grapes. Once matured, the grapes are hand-harvested, selected, and sorted.

Domaine de Leyre-Loup Morgon, Beaujolais, France:

(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the producer’s website)

Varietal Composition Gamay

Location Burgundy, France

Drink Now or Cellar? Drink now or cellar until 2028

Tasting notes:

Smooth and powerful. Aged in vats. Intense ruby color. Nose of cherry, blackcurrant and prunes. Hints of terroir and forest. Frank and soft foremouth. Good balance and long finish, aromas of red fruits Mellow tannins opening on a final peppery note. 

Food pairings!

• The 2023 Domaine de Leyre-Loup Morgon pairs wonderfully with roast chicken, charcuterie, or grilled salmon, where its vibrant red fruit and silky texture enhance savory flavors. It also complements earthy dishes like mushroom risotto or soft-ripened cheeses, highlighting its depth and subtle minerality.

From Them to You!

The Domaine de Leyre-Loup came to life after the encounter of two men with wine and nature: Jacques and Christophe Lanson. Since 1993, they have put their passion and know-how at work. Their commitment to terroir and to the art of winemaking has forged their wines a strong reputation.

Today, the domain encompasses about 10 hectares of vines, where granitic soils are perfectly suited to the Gamay grape variety: terroirs are hard, demanding and poor, yielding in wines of rare richness and quality. The vineyard, that includes 7 hectares of Morgon and 3 hectares of Fleurie, stands on renowned “climates”: Corcelette, Bellevue and les Côtes in Morgon, Poncié and les Combes in Fleurie.

It is in the heart of the Morgon appellation, on the Climate of Bellevue, where terroir, grape variety and reach for perfection unite for the best, that is elborated an outstanding white wine, Les Granits de Bellevue.

Making the most of the vines to produce a perfect wine requires hard work and dedication. Mastering winemaking to design long-lasting wines demands craft and humility. But the true art lies in the symbiosis with nature and environment, that must be tamed and accompanied.

That is how, while tasting a bottle, the Domaine de Leyre-Loup invites you to rediscover the invisible spirit of wine.

Bodega Felix Lorenzo Cachazo Carras Vinas Verdejo, Rueda, Spain:

(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the producer’s website)

Varietal Composition Verdejo

Location Rueda DO, Spain

Drink Now or Cellar? Drink now or cellar until 2027

Tasting notes:

“Medium yellow in the glass, this wine offers pineapple, passion fruit and jasmine aromas. Its gorgeous texture fills the mouth with vivid white peach, apricot preserve, orange blossom and river rock flavors with a soft hint of iodine on the post-palate.” — Mike DeSimone, Wine Enthusiast

Food pairings!

• The 2022 Carrasviñas Verdejo pairs wonderfully with fresh seafood like grilled shrimp, oysters, or ceviche, where its citrusy acidity cuts through the brininess. It also shines with goat cheese, paella, or light tapas, enhancing both the freshness and savory notes of Spanish cuisine.

From Them to You!

Bodegas Felix Lorenzo Cachazo is one of the most important estates in the Rueda DO. Founded in 1946, they were a pioneer in transforming the dry, white wines of Rueda into what they are today. They farm 35 hectares of their own vineyards together with 9 hectares of pre-phylloxera vineyards, which makes the estate extremely unique. The estate hand-harvests more than anybody in the region – an effort to raise the bar for value Rueda.

Grapes grown on 100 year-old, pre-phylloxera vines with low yields. During the third week of September, grapes were handpicked by night after reaching the optimal alcohol content and tartaric acid level. Crushing and de-stemming and gentle pressing to extract free-run juice, common cold settling followed by alcoholic fermentation during 30 days at 14ºC. 

RATINGS:

93 WE

Decibel Crownthorpe Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the producer’s website)

Varietal Composition Sauvignon Blanc

Location Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

Drink Now or Cellar? Drink now or cellar until 2026

Tasting notes:

The nose shows lemongrass, kaffir lime and red grapefruit…  Hints of crisp nectarine, rich nougat and citrus rind evolve on the back of the nose.  The palate begins fresh with bright peachy fruit, pineapple and is plusher than expected once it hits the midpalate.  The finish has a driving acidity that is cuddled by hints of fruit sweetness, leaving the mouth watering for another sip.

Food pairings!

• The 2023 Decibel Crownthorpe Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc pairs beautifully with fresh goat cheese, oysters, and citrus-dressed salads, where its zesty acidity brightens each bite. It also complements grilled asparagus, Thai green curry, or sushi, highlighting its vibrant fruit and herbal notes.

From Them to You!

I discovered HBSB my first weekend here in HB in the summer of 2008 and thought right away that I wanted to make one of my own. The soft, complex, more tropical style appeals more to me than the styles grown to the south of HB. So we work on lots of lees stirring and accentuating those fleshy, rich notes. While there’s no doubt it’s a Kiwi SB, it’s also uniquely Hawke’s Bay and I love that.

Hawke’s Bay lies on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The region enjoys dry summers with moderate, cool nights. This wine reflects a single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc which was grown inland on the elevated terraces of the Crownthorpe sub-region of Hawke’s Bay. This appellation enjoys long, strong sunlight hours but is slightly cooler than the coastal plains of Hawke’s Bay, making it most suitable for growing Sauvignon Blanc.

Torre Zambra ‘Incastro Rosa’ Terre di Chieti IGT, Abruzzo, Italy:

(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the producer’s website)

Varietal Composition 50% Montepulciano, 30% Sangiovese, 20% Primitivo

Location Abruzzo, Italy

Drink Now or Cellar? Drink now or cellar until 2027

Tasting notes:

Delicate pink color with brilliant violet reflections. On the nose, it is a fairly intense and persistent wine, revealing pleasant aromas of fresh red fruits, especially cherry, with hints of strawberry and

damson plum. On the palate, it is fresh, with a mineral note on the finish. The balance between freshness and complexity allows the Incastro Rosa to be the perfect pairing for a wide selection

of foods, from pizza to pasta and meat dishes.

Food pairings!

• The Torre Zambra Incastro Rosa pairs beautifully with grilled seafood, fresh salads, and light pasta dishes featuring tomatoes or herbs. It also complements charcuterie, young cheeses, and Mediterranean mezze like hummus, olives, and roasted vegetables.

From Them to You!

During World War II, Laurentino De Cerchio was captured by the Nazi army and imprisoned in Germany; he succeeded in returning to Villamagna only in 1947. Back to the small village he took over the farm and began his constant activity of wine grower, replanting the old vines destroyed and starting to build the winery. And that’s how, in 1961, the first “Torre Zambra” harvest was bottled.